Battersea Power electrify league with first-match thrashing of Hammersmith

Reigning champs Battersea Power sent shock-waves through the London League’s division 6 with a first-match thrashing of Hammersmith Hedgers.

Battersea’s newly rebranded Minor team, formerly known as Battersea MI, put in a power-packed performance to run out 3.5-0.5 winners.

The early-season match against our west London rivals was high voltage from the start as Stephen Welch on board 3 and stand-in skip David Blackwell on 4 secured quick wins.

Leon Watson on board 1 then followed as the Hedgers, one of two teams Hammersmith field in this division, crumbled.

The final game to finish, involving Tom Butterworth, was a cracker – a marathon that went right to the wire in a see-saw king pawn endgame.

It was here that the short-circuiting Hammersmith team avoided a total wipeout as the tense game ended in a draw.

The Power’s next match is against the British Bangla Chess Association on October 23.